SAN FRANCISCO –- The Phillies are awaiting word on the results of Roy Halladay’s shoulder examination.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner was placed on the disabled list Monday and is spending Tuesday in Los Angeles, where he is being examined by specialist Neal Ellatrache.

Halladay turns 36 this month.

No one knows how long he will be out.

No one knows whether he will be back at all, certainly not Cliff Lee who Monday night mentioned the ominous possibility of Halladay being “gone forever.”

Regardless, Halladay’s condition is on the minds of every Phillie, especially his rotation mates.

“Obviously, we hope that it’s not as big of a deal as I think everyone might think it might be,” Lee said after Monday night’s game. “Hopefully it’s something minor and he’s able to get back.”

Halladay spent seven weeks on the disabled list last season. Phillies’ starting pitchers had the third-best ERA (3.23) in the majors when Halladay went down in late May. During his time on the DL, the starters’ ERA was 4.72, ranking 22nd in the majors during that span.

It’s doubtful that Halladay’s absence will have such a severe impact this season. Phillies’ starters rank 19th in the majors with a 4.46 ERA – and that’s after Lee’s eight innings of two-run ball Monday night. Halladay went to the disabled list with a swollen ERA of8.65.

Lee was philosophical when asked about the impact of losing Halladay on the rest of the staff.

“What can you do?” he said. “You’ve still got to go out there and grind and try to give the team a chance to win every time you take the mound, no matter who the guy is.

“Obviously, Doc’s been one of the best pitchers over the past 10 or 12 years in all the big leagues. Missing a guy like that is definitely going to be tough on us, but injuries happen. You don’t want it to happen. Definitely not him. We all know that. That’s something that happens.

“He’s pitched a long time, fired a lot of bullets. I hope it’s not major and it’s something minor and he’s back in a couple weeks and jumps back on board. But until then, we’ve just got to keep on grinding.

“Even if he’s gone forever, there’s nothing we can do. We’ve got to go out there and continue to pitch and try to give the team a chance to win every time you take the mound. All of us.”